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Victorious Red Bull driver heckled on the podium yet again

By Pete Gill

Last Updated: 23/09/13 1:52pm

In what has become a familiar refrain this season, the German was heckled on the podium as he celebrated his latest frontrunning masterclass after romping to a crushing victory ahead of a distant Fernando Alonso.

Although not as loud as the heckles which greeted his wins earlier this year in Malaysia, Canada and at Monza, the boos were clearly audible as the reigning World Champion stood atop the podium.

But if the booing is affecting him, Vettel isn't letting it show.

"They are on a tour - they go around on a bus," he declared in the post-race press conference.

"I don't have to do anything," Vettel responded to Sky F1 when asked how he could improve his standing among the F1 fraternity.

"Some people like what we do, some people don't. If they boo, it's a compliment - that's the way I take it, they are jealous because I win. It seems as if they are on a tour and they are wealthy enough to come on flights to Singapore."

Yet the issue is no laughing matter, with Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle, the podium compere, making his displeasure abundantly clear both during the ceremony and when he reflected on the ugly side of F1 afterwards.

"I was really amazed to hear the booing going on," said Brundle. "It has become a default - and it's wrong, because the guy has just put in stunning sporting performance.

"Different people have different issues, but the feedback I am getting is that they don't like one person dominant, but what can you do? He is in a groove and in a class of his own. We should be celebrating that brilliance."

Malaysia and 'Multi-21' is undoubtedly a large factor in Vettel's apparent unpopularity and it is perhaps the ultimate irony of the year that Mark Webber's subsequent slump in form has also served to leave Vettel in the firing line. "What he needs is competition," noted Brundle.

On Sunday, there was none apparent as the 26-year-old cruised to a crushing triumph, crossing the line over half a minute clear of Alonso despite the mid-race deployment of the Safety Car.

His detractors won't like it, but a fourth consecutive title has become a racing certainty.